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The Quiet Revolution.

The Anna Raccoon Archives

by Anna Raccoon on May 24, 2011

There are 10,000 miles of railway track and around 2,500 railway stations in Britain. Not many people know that – except the railway buffs, and the British Transport Police. For despite their all encompassing name, their beat is solely those miles of iron tracks and the 2,500 buildings associated with them, together with a rag bag of Eurostar, the Croydon tram link, the underground, and the Docklands Light Railway. Not bus stations, or garages, or motorway miles – just the bits of transport that run on iron tracks.

There is nothing dishonourable about being a ‘British Transport Policeman’ – someone has to do it, but it is hardly the glamour end of policing, and unlikely to attract the cream of the crop when it comes to potential policemen.

“You go home with a real buzz if you have been able to help someone; take the case of the elderly gentleman I had who could not remember where he was staying. After some time I found his hotel key, found out where it was and we took him back there. It turned out that his family were desperately worried about him and were very grateful for our help. It was very rewarding to be able to help in a situation like this.”

‘If, you are asked to provide character references […]..This is usually only required when you do not have employment references’.

Presumably if you have an unbroken record of two years stacking shelves in Poundsavers, you can miss out this requirement?

You will be vetted to ‘BC’ level, which as the acronym implies is ‘Basic Check’ level. A Basic Check or BC (now called BPSS by the Defence Vetting Agency – Baseline Personnel Security Standard) is a minimum standard of checks required which recently also includes a CRB disclosure check but interestingly BPSS, is not in itself a national security clearance.

What does a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check involve?A BPSS involves a check of identity documents and employment/education referees.

Having grown up in the Britain of Dixon of Dock Green, and the cuddly image of policemen as walking talking wristwatches, I find it alarming that any section of the police force should be ‘routinely armed’ with semi-automatic guns, without widespread debate.

That it should be the British Transport Police of all divisions, defies belief.

Apparently the Home Secretary has ‘agreed’ with the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police that henceforth those charged with ensuring you take your feet off the seats, and remove your chewing gum from under the table, will be doing so from behind the other end of a semi-automatic Heckler and Koch MP5.

Specialist firearms officers on call where needed are one thing, routinely arming the Transport Police is another.

Jump over the ticket barrier at your own risk……..

Discuss.

{18 comments }

Adrian DwyerJune 28, 2011 at 13:32

Why is it that only the ignoraneous twats who have a ‘thing’ about the police in general and obviously from the comments absolutely no idea what standards, training, powers etc the BTP have who make comments?

My local train station is 500m from the local police station. One day on the platform an old man was wandering up and down trying feel up the skirts of the shoolgirls who were clearly frightened. No-one did anything (had they seen it all before?). He seemed to know that people would be too timid to stop him. I was about to punch him in the face but thought I’d be the criminal in that scenario so I just went up and shouted abuse in his face about what he was doing etc and he nearly shat himself . I blocked his route out from the platform and called the local police station.

“Did this incident happen on the platform Sir?” came the tired standardised response.“Yes” I said thinking they just wanted to know the location to pick him up?“Your nearest Officer is at least half an hour away Sir, do you consider this an emergency?”“But the Police station is just round the corner can’t you just come and pick him up?” I replied getting angrier.“I’m sorry Sir this is a matter for the BTP not our police service? Are there any other witnesses present who can verify your account Sir?”I looked around at the empty platforms having missed my train to detain the pervert, no-one else had bothered to stay, better things to do?Eventually they agreed to ask the BTP to send an officer down the line. At this point I was late for work, I had important (some excuse) meetings to go to and, to my great shame, I got on the next train to work and left the old perv to escape. Having no confidence that an officer would arrive in the next 10 hours let alone 30 mins.

I now look back on that empty platform and wish I had dished out some justice of my own on that weak old man. It is an empty wish I know. But tht was the day I realised that the Police are not there to help anyone but themselves.

CascadianMay 25, 2011 at 18:09

The correct procedure in this situation is to advise the local plod that you have just shot the pervert, no waiting required.

I’ve had quite a few run ins with the BTP, and of all the people I know am the most likely to need surgery to remove caps from my ass if any BTP “unit” should be armed. I’ve only ever come across one BTP officer who was any type of decent, and I dread to think what they’d be like if they were armed.

In my experience (and I’m being a little biased here, because I do goad them a lot) BTP officers are generally rude, on a power trip and have immense delusions of grandeur when it comes to how important they really are.

My absolute biggest gripe with them m though is that when you boil it down they’re in charge of policing the railway by-laws, which are outdated and favour the TOCs (train operating companies) effectively making the BTP revenue enforcers/collectors for part private companies. I’d be more favourable of armed BTP units if the by-laws were amended/updated drastically first.

Don’t even get me started on Rail Enforcement Officers. If you think PCSOs abuse their position you ain’t seen nothing yet. Woman on a Raft covered something about this here:

That was my first ever run in with the BTP/REOs and Southeastern. They’re regretting it now because I’m a constant source of annoyance to them. So much so I’ve been detained twice since, once for “inappropriate behaviour” (filming a Southeastern director at a public meeting they arranged) and once for failing to show my ticket. (I had one, but out of principle for their crap service refused to show it). In the second instance a ticket inspector thought he had the authority to over power and then assault me.

I think we should lobby government for REOs and ticket inspectors to be armed too. Could make a few interesting stories more interesting )

CheersOlly

john malpasMay 25, 2011 at 01:55

Possible they will be the cheapest instant response people if terrorists have another go at the railways.No good having a cupboard full of machine guns for real police when the train is already under attack. Too late you see.

John LeonMay 24, 2011 at 23:58

I wonder how intense their training will be? I cannot imagine it will be anything like the Sniper courses for the Military let alone the Special Forces; the thought of panicking BTP clones shooting up a train load of drunken footie fans and the pathetic lies and excuses and pre determined whitewash by the powers to be makes me very glad I no longer live in the U.K.

Somewhat alarmedMay 24, 2011 at 22:29

I’ve always found the BTP to the most obnoxious of the obnoxious. God knows how this power will go to their little wooden-tops. What next? School crossing ladies? Traffic wardens?? Yetch…….

Old SlaughterMay 24, 2011 at 21:39

Need more details. I am fairly confident that they would form an elite section within their ranks to carry out the tasks. Still what standard are the elite of the BTP? Even following a deal of training.

Gildas theMonkMay 24, 2011 at 20:29

I thought word on the street amongst the spooks was that Bin Laden & Co were planning a 9/11 style attack on trains. However, I would be surprised if this worked, on the grounds that trains hardly ever go anywhere if it is (a) windy (b) wet (c) too hot (d) too cold (e) a weekend (f) a week day .Although to be fair I used to enjoy dinner on the 4.15 from Leeds to London on a Friday – one of the more civilised means of passing the time!

Slightly OT, but I heard today that the Belgians are going to play ‘ Lady Gaga’s’ latest album on their rail network – it will heighten commuter’s optimism apparently.Radio station?

Ex Community Service SupervisorMay 24, 2011 at 17:24

It would be interesting to know if they were to be armed with hollow point ammunition as well. After it took 11 x 9mm in the brainpan to ensure that Mr Menendez did not get up again, I understand that hollow points are now standard issue to the met. For a demo, viewherehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYigC49tnh8

EngineerMay 24, 2011 at 16:42

To be fair, Anna, I don’t think they give just any old Transport copper a gun, especially not in the early part of his service. This is more likely to be a provision to arm some coppers in some parts of the country when threat levels justify it.

I gather that some years ago, only one police force in Britain was authorised to carry sub-automatic weapons, and that was the force charged with the security of some nuclear establishments. They weren’t armed all the time, they just had access when required. Since then, conditions have changed somewhat for many other police forces. I dare say that the upcoming olympics have given cause for a great deal of activity behind the scenes for several security services.

Where they go next should be the main concern. Here we have armed cops, and they’ve been routinely armed since day one as far as I know. And we have armed security guards as well if they’re doing cash transport etc, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard when that started. Now we’re getting a Melbourne version of the British Transport Police though it’s really just night patrols for the dodgiest stations, and even though they’re not actually proper cops – unlike the BTP who are real police but with an unglamorous remit – they’re getting guns too. This has caused a few waves but assuming they’re responsible and don’t go and shoot someone or themselves accidentally I expect people will get used to it. It’ll be just another subset of responsible law abiding citizens who, unlike other responsible law abiding citizens, can be trusted with a gun. But only while they’re on the clock of course – everybody knows they turn into deranged nutters as soon as they go home for the day and can’t be trusted with a gun again until they put the uniform on for their next shift.

“… unlike the BTP who are real police but with an unglamorous remit …”

I always thought of the BTP as composed mainly of those too thick or unfit to get a job with the real police…

Somewhat alarmedMay 24, 2011 at 22:39

Indeed, Julia. But the really sad thing is, they don’t know this and even have the delusional abilities to think themselves superior to regular police. It’s frightening how ignorant these PCSO wannabees can be.

Still real police with real powers of arrest, just like any other British cop. The only difference is the force’s remit. They’re more like the Civil Nuclear Constabulary except they have to deal with trainspotters rather than unwashed nuclear power protesters. Well, unless the protesters are on the way to Sellafield by train.